Ventilating-cap



(Re Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. J. RYAN. VENTILATING GAP. No. 527,185. Patented Oct. 9, 1894.

Wiigcsscs (No ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. J. RYAN. VENTILATING GAP.

No. 527,185. Patented Oct. 9,1894.

O 7 F31 i 89 31. F|6.9- F'IGJO- (I t 5 33 GAL FF FIGJI. FIGJZ- f/wmifiyw Wiigcsses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS JOSEPH RYAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

VENTlLATlNG-CAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,185. dated October9, 1894.

Appli tiun fi December '7, 189 3- Serial No. 493,073. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern.-

Beitkuown that I, THOMAS JOSEPH RYAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Ventilating-Gap,of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in caps for sewer and other pipes,the objects in view being to produce a readily applied and locked capadapted for various sizes of pipes; to provide a cap especially designedfor use for street pipes and so constructed or formed as to extendbutashortdistance above the surface of the street and to preventslipping thereon by passers-by; to provide for a thorough ventilation ofthe pipe by the cap; and finally to produce an even tension on the pipeand cap, whereby fracture of the latter is less liable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:Figure l is a perspective view of my preferredform of cap, the same being designed for street use or use upon varioussizes of water pipes in the street. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of amodified construction of cap adapted for the same purposes. Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a modifiedconstruction of cap, the same being designed for ordinary use or useother than upon the street. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 aredetails of modified constructions of locking devices. Fig. 14 is adetail in perspective of the combined tap and binding-screw. Fig. 15isadetail in perspective of the movable clamp.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

In the practice of my invention I cast the cap 1, as is usual,and thesame is of concavoconvex form, and when it is designed for street use, Ipreferably make the same shallower than when otherwise designed. For thepurpose of strengthening the cap I prefer to form in the same a seriesof corrugations 2, the said corrugations extending spirally or inradially curved lines from the center to the edge thereof, and in orderto prevent slipping by passers-by when they may tread upon the cap, Ipreferably form the cor rugations in spiral or radially curved lines, sothat regardless of the position of the foot upon the cap or any tendencyit may have to slip, the said spirally disposed corrugations will resistthe same while it will be understood that the vertical projection of thecorrngations will also serve to strengthen the body of the cap and giveit an ornamental appearance.

The edge of the cap is preferably scalloped to agree with thecorrugations, thus forming vents or openings 3, and if desired, I mayaugment the ventilating capacity by a series of perforations 4, formedin the cap.

I may strengthen the structure by forming around the cap a rim 5, thoughif desired, and as shown in Fig.2, this rim may be omitted. In thepresent instance, however, and in the preferred form as shown in Fig. 1,the rim is employed and rests upon the ground or sidewalk, as do alsothe points of the corrugations, so that the cap is better able to resistpressure.

Various means may be provided for securing the cap upon the pipe and inaccordance with the nature of the pipe to which the cap is to beapplied, the spigot end of the pipe is provided with a flange, whereasit is well known the opposite end is perfectly plain or smooth. When thelatter occurs I preferably form kerfs in the exterior of the pipe forengaging the devices hereinafter described as being located on the cap.

Integrally cast upon the under side of the cap and following the ribsproduced by the corrugations therein, is a plurality of brackets 6.These brackets are provided with inner inclined edges and at intervalshave notches 7 formed therein, the upper ends of the notches depending,forming outer engaging lugs 8. By reason of the brackets being inclined,the notches will be in difierent annular planes, and thus adapted forvarious sizes of pipes. It will be seen that such a character of notchwill engage over the inner and outer sides of the pipe as shown in Fig.8. If desired, as where the cap is to be applied to only one diameter ofpipe, the bracket 6 may have single notches, that is, provided withmerely one set of notches for engaging the pipe, but as shown in Fig. 3,where three sets of notches or openings are provided, differentdiameters of pipe may be accommodated, and such an arrangement is veryuseful in cities where the pipes are not of a uniform diameter.

At a suitable point on the interior of the cap, preferably below one ofthe brackets which is cut away for the purpose, I form an inwardlydisposed horizontal plate 12, having a slot 13, through which passes aclampingscrew 14. The under side of this bracket is roughened and hasapplied thereto and secured in position by means of the said screw amovable clamp 15, whose outer end is flared to form a head 16, whoseupper side is roughened to engage with the roughened surface of theplate, and whose inner end is provided with an L-shaped lug 17 inengagement with the pipe and thus serve to lock under the flangethereof.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the pipe 18 as having the flange 19, and itwill be seen that the shoulders 8 of the brackets engage under theflange of the pipe, as does also the lug 17 of the movable clamp. Abovethe clamp, the cap is provided at one side with a sunken or recessedportion 20, and the same is perforated. Into this perforat on I pass anangular threaded shaft 21, which has a head 2 at its outerend adapted toreceive a socketwrench,and is also kerfed to receive a screwdriver. Bythe employment of such ashape of screw 1 obviate the necessity oftapping or threading the opening for the reception of the screw, but infact the screw itself is at-ap, and during the act of insertionsimultaneously produces the thread into which it ongages. A fastener ofthis kind is designed for employment on pipes of an intermediate sizewhich the clamp 15 will not operate.

I have illustrated a series of wedges that may be employed in connectionwith the upper notches for binding upon the smallest size pipe the capis adapted for, it being understood that the wedges when used are forcedbetween the outer wallsof the notches in the brackets and the exteriorof the pipe.

In Fig. 5 I employ a wooden wedge or key 23, and provide the end andside of the same with a sheet metal facing-strip 24. In this conditionthe wedge is inserted in position, after which, as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 5, the ends of the sheet-metal facing are laterally bentso as to prevent disengagement. This form of wedge is usefulandconvenient, in that the sheet metal permits of abrupt bends.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a pair of wedges or keys, the same beingdesignated by the numeral 25. These are inserted from opposite sides,and having been placed in position their ends are reversely turned asshown.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a wedge 26 having its under side toothed asat 27 to engage with alocking-plate 28. When these parts are position,the locking-plate is bentand the wedge is therefore prevented frommoving in one direction by theteeth and in the opposite direction by itsgradually widening proportion.

In Fig.8 I have illustrated an ordinary wedge 29, the same having aseries of perforations 30, through any one of which a solid locking-pin,as 31, or a split-pin as 32, may be inserted, and in the latter instancethe terminals bent or clinched.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a bifurcated wedge 33, the bifurcations orbranches thereof being laterally spread over the wedge when in position.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated a wedge 34.- whose rear or butt-end isnotched for one half of its width,as at 35, to receive the bentlocking-key 36, which after insertion is clinched.

In Fig. 11 I have illustrated a wedge 37, very similar to the wedge 34:but having its bent locking-key 38 extending entirely across the buttendof the same.

Again in Fig.1:3, I have illustrated a similar wedge 39 to thatillustrated in Fig. 10, the key 40 being provided at one side with a rib41, which engages with a groove 42 forming the web.

In Fig. 13 I employ a central wedge 43,and apply at the opposite sidesthereof lockingstrips or plates 44, the same being inserted with thewedge in position and subsequently bent at their ends.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, I employ a lug 45 at one side of the caphaving a screwthreaded opening 46, at opposite sides of which slots 47are formed. Any ordinary screw is intended to be inserted in theperforation 46, and as is well known such screws being subject to rustand other impediment to removal, I prefer to employ the slots 47 for thepurpose of packing the same with greasy waste or other lubricant,whereby the screw may be always readily removed.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simpleconstruction of cap adapted to be applied to a variety of sizes ofstreet or other pipes,aud may be ornamented in any desired manner,though I prefer the corrugations illustrated in Fig. 1, in that theseadd to the strength of the cap and also to the safety of its employment,being nearly flat and of such disposition as to obviate any slippingwhatever upon it by production of the corrugations. Also it will be seenthat I form at the inner side of the cap the ribs which are the resultof such corrugations, and these ribs being substantially in the sameannular plane as the edge of the pipe, and serve to diffuse the strainof the cap over the entire pipe and likewise that of the pipe over thecap, also reduces the liability of breakage.

It will of course be obvious that although I have shown these variousfastening devices in a single cap, whereby the same is adapted forvarious sizes of pipes, yet any one or two may be employed, as forinstance one cap may have simply one of the wedge forms of lock or thewedge and binding-screw, do, as will be readily understood.

At this point further attention is directed to the specific constructionof the brackets (i which provide means for adapting the cap for use upondifferent sizes of sewer and other pipes, and particularly to theconstruction shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, in which the cap isillustrated as being designed for use upon three diiferent sizes ofpipes. In connection with these different sizes of pipes it is to beunderstood that the clamp which is used in connection with the largestsize of pipe cannot be employed in connection with that size of pipewith which the locking screw or shaft 21, is employed to fasten the capin position, and the latter fastening device cannot be employed tofasten the cap on the smallest sizeof pipe in connection with which thewedges are necessary, so therefore it will be seen that the severalfastening devices noted are essential to the use of a plurality oflocking notches 7 in the brackets 6. These locking notches 7 are shapedwith inner inclined edges to form inwardly disposed and dependinglocking lugs that are adapted to engage inside of the upper end of thepipe on which the cap is fitted, while the outer engaging lugs 8, of thelocking notches are dis posed outside of the upper end of the pipe, andthe shoulders 9 of the outer engaging lugs 8, are adapted to be heldengaged under the outer flange or bead, which is usually located at theupperouter ends of pipes in connection with which ventilating caps areemployed.

From the construction just particularly referred to, it will now beclearer that each locking notch of the brackets 6, are shaped alike, andare adapted to engage inside, outside, and under the flange or head, ofthe pipe with which the same engage, and such locking notches are heldin locking engagement with the upper end of the pipe by means of theseveral fastening devices re ferred to, each of which also engages underthe upper flange or bead of the pipe, and, by being adjusted, take up orcompensate for the space caused by the variation in the sizes of theflanges on the pipes, and in the event of that part of the notches,between the inner and outer lugs thereof, not being of precisely theright shape to fit or engage the flange of the pipe, a suitable wedgemay be inserted, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, tosecure the proper engagement of the cap on the pipe.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A shallow or lowstreet cap for pipes, the same being concavo-convex in form and providedwith a series of rounded exteriorcorrugationsextendingcontinuouslyfromacommon point at the center to theouter edge, thereby producing scallops at the edge of the cap to formvents or openings, said corrugations being also regularly and spirallycurved from the center of the cap to the edge to obviate slipping,substantially as set forth.

2. Ashallowor low street cap for pipes having a series of corrugationsspirally curved from the center to the edge thereof to obviate slipping,scallops agreeing with the corrugations and formed at the edge of thecap, aux iliary vent openings or perforations near the edge, andtheintegral annular rim 5, formed at the outer edge of the cap andadapted to rest upon the ground, substantially as set forth.

3. A cap for pipes, the same being of concave-convex form and beingprovided on its under side with a series of radial brackets havingnotches for engaging the edge of the pipe, the upper ends of saidnotches being provided with inwardly disposed depending lugs for enga,in; the inner surface of the pipe, substantially as specified.

i. A cap for pipes, the same being of con cavo-convex form and beingprovided on its under side with a series of radial brackets havingnotches for engaging the edge of the pipe, the upper ends of saidnotches being provided with inwardly disposed depending lugs forengaging the inner surface of the pipe, and means for binding the capupon the pipe, substantially as specified.

5. The cap of concavo-convex form adapted to be arranged over a pipe andhaving the internal brackets radiating therefrom, the same beingprovided with a plurality of notches arranged in the same plane andadapted to engage pipes of various types, and means for locking the capupon the pipe, substantially as specified.

6. The hereindescribed cap for pipes with flanged upper ends, the samebeing of concavo-convex form and having internal radial bracketsprovided upon their under and inner sides with looking notches adaptedto embrace the upper end of the pipe and engage the inner and outersides thereof and also its flange, and means for locking the cap inposition upon the pipe, substantially as specified.

7. The herein described improved cap, the same being of concavo-convexform, and cor rugated to form internal ribs and having internal inclinedbrackets following the ribs produced by the corrugations and providedwith notches arranged in the same annular plane to engage the upperedgeof a pipe, and means for locking the cap in position upon a pipe,substantially as specified.

8. The herein described cap for pipes, the same being of concavo-convexform and having upon its inner side pipe-engaging brackets, a radialslotted plate having a roughened under surface and clamping-screwsarranged in the slot of the plate, and a movable clamp having aroughened side for engaging the plate and receiving the screw, and itsinner end shaped to engage the pipe, substantially as specified.

fl. The herein described cap for pipes, the same being provided upon itsinnerside with radially inclined brackets, each having a plurality ofnotches, and one of said brackets being cutaway at its lower end orbelow its upper notch wedge-shaped keys adapted to fit in the upper ofsaid notches, a threaded perforation formed in the cap below saidbrackets in line with the second series of notches, a binding-screwarranged therein, a slotted bracket arranged below the bindingscrew inline with the third set of notches, a clamping-plate located undet thebracket, and a clamping-screw passed through the clamping-plate and theslot in the bracket, substantially as specified.

10. The herein described cap for pipes,the same having internal radiallyinclined brackets, the edges of which are provided with a plurality ofpipe-engaging notches arranged in different annular planes, aWedge-shaped key adapted to fit in the upperof said notches, a threadedperforation formed in the cap in line with the second series of notches,a binding-screw therein, a slotted bracket arranged in line with thethird series of notches, a clamping-screw in the slot, and aclampingplate engaged by the clamping-screw, substantially as specified.

11. The herein described pipe cap for pipes of dilferent sizes havingflanges at their upper ends having an inner series of radial bracketsprovided with a plurality of locking notches, the inner sides of whichare extended into inwardly disposed lugs to engage inside of the pipeend, and the outer sides of which are shouldered to engage under thepipe flange on the outside thereof, and adjustable locking devicesarranged to also engage under the pipe flange and hold the lockingnotches firmly in engagement with the inner and outer upper ends of thepipe, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS JOSEPH RYAN.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS CHRISTOPHER COSTELLO, GEORGE Lows.

